IFR blog > Student questions
IFR E-book Package

I have heard a lot of good things about IFR. I want to begin practicing the method but I'm not sure where to start. Can you tell me what materials I need?

Am I ready for the IFR jam tracks?

I want to purchase IFR Jam Tracks Level 1 but I don't know if my current level of knowledge is enough to be able to use them. Right now I'm practicing IFR Exercise 2 and I'm in the Seven Worlds exercises. Do I need to go farther or is this enough to start improvising with the jam tracks?

Should advanced musicians skip ahead in IFR?

An advanced trumpet player asks if he should skip over the beginning IFR materials and go directly to the IFR Standards Workouts. But for any advanced player who struggles to play by ear, it's in the very first IFR activities that you will learn this ability.

Improvise for Real in print

I'm excited to try the IFR method but I would prefer to have a hard copy of your book. Is Improvise for Real available in print?

How to master interval jumps in your IFR singing practice

I am practicing the IFR exercise ‘Sing the Map’ and I can move up and down the scale but I cannot yet make interval jumps and “wander freely”. Should I just keep practicing moving through the scale? Will this bring about the ability to sing the notes freely one day?

When to advance in Sing the Numbers 1?

For IFR students using our ear training audio course 'Sing the Numbers', in this video I'll help you understand how to get the most out of this course and how to decide when you're ready to move on from each lesson to the next.

How does IFR address pentatonic scales?

I enjoy the Improvise For Real method very much. Just wanted to ask, with pentatonic scales being so important in music around the world, and particularly loved by guitarists, how can we incorporate them into our practice?

Am I too advanced for these workshops?

"I don't know if my musical experience is already beyond the level that your ear training video courses are designed for. Can you tell me the topics covered in each of your courses so I can decide if they would help me?"

How do more advanced jazz improvisers use the chord changes in their solos?

I really like your approach to improvisation. I’m curious, how do more advanced jazz improvisers use the chord changes in their solos?

Do I need to read sheet music to understand IFR?

I've heard so many great things about IFR. Is it necessary for me to read sheet music to understand the concepts in your book?